Lead Performer: University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI
May 31, 2022
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Lead Performer: University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI
Partner: University of Southern California
DOE Total Funding: $2,249,996
Project Term: October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2024
Funding Type: Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT)
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
The efficiency and operational lifetime of white organic light emitting devices (WOLEDs) is limited by the performance of the high-efficiency blue triplet-emitting OLED component. Researchers at the University of Michigan and University of Southern California are teaming to develop a new class of blue triplet emitting molecules with exceptionally short radiative decay times, along with further reduction of radiative lifetimes by the Purcell effect (i.e., creating optical environments that reduce the lifetime by coupling of the OLED optical modes with the excitonic state). This is perhaps the first attempt to fully integrate device physics with new chemistry innovations to significantly reduce the excited state lifetimes, and hence their density, which in turn reduces the possibility of destructive annihilation events in the OLED emission zone.
PROJECT IMPACT
This combination of solutions along with grading of the emission zone and use of high energy excited state manager molecules is projected to extend the operational lifetime of blue emitters used in WOLEDs by at least two orders of magnitude. The team anticipates producing blue emitting phosphorescent OLED (PHOLED) and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) based compounds used in WOLEDs with lifetimes exceeding 50,000 hours. Experimental and analytical investigations resulting from this work should yield a new generation of robust molecules and device structures useful for high-intensity WOLED sources.
CONTACTS
DOE Technology Manager: Wyatt Merrill, wyatt.merrill@ee.doe.gov
Lead Performer: Stephen Forrest, University of Michigan